During the Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders meeting in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, announced that two million Almajiris and other out-of-school children have been reintegrated into classrooms nationwide.
The Minister revealed that these children were enrolled in primary schools for vocational training and skills acquisition. This initiative aims to provide them with opportunities for a brighter future and address the increasing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
In addition to enrollment efforts, the Ministry has implemented various training programs for teachers and non-teaching staff, with over 70,674 individuals trained at all levels. Moreover, grants have been disbursed to integrated Quranic and Tsangaya centers to construct facilities, benefiting over 62,121 learners and reducing out-of-school children.
Professor Mamman outlined plans to introduce skills development programs in primary and secondary schools and entrepreneurship skills and innovation hubs at the tertiary level. The Ministry aims to produce a highly-skilled, educated workforce with entrepreneurial skills to drive sustainable economic growth and global competitiveness.
Furthermore, the Ministry plans to build a comprehensive database to enhance planning and policy implementation by providing accurate information about schools across Nigeria.
.Stakeholders, including the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), praised the Ministry’s curriculum reform and database initiative, emphasizing the importance of verified data for effective planning and policy implementation.
In closing, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Did Walson-Jack, expressed appreciation for the contributions of all stakeholders towards achieving the Ministry’s goals, reaffirming the commitment to providing quality education that meets 21st-century global standards.
